The winter snow is marching down the mountains and will soon lay siege to Anchorage. Just last weekend, I went on the 12.6 mile Willawaw loop. The trailhead is just 15 minutes from my house, and even though I've had my eye on it for years, the timing came together (no work, no kids, sunshine, felt strong).

But today when I stepped out of work, the clouds parted–and Voilá ! The "termination" (as in the end of summer) snow had set in.